Genevi Technologies Celebrates Licensing Agreement with U-M by Ringing Startup Bell
12/3/2024
Genevi Technologies, Inc. celebrated its official launch as a University of Michigan (U-M) startup company by ringing the bell at Innovation Partnerships. Arthur Lupia, Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation, and Alena Stocking, Chief of Staff for the Office of the Vice President for Research, joined the Innovation Partnerships team in honoring Genevi Technologies. Representing Genevi Technologies at the event were:
- James Ashton-Miller, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director, Biomechanics Research Laboratory
- John DeLancey, Norman F. Miller Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Pelvic Floor Research Group
- George Russo, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, OriGyn Solutions
- Adam Mascari, Co-founder, OriGyn Solutions; President and General Manager, Genevi Technologies
- Meg Eckenroad, Commercial Strategy Officer, Genevi Technologies
- Tracy Accardi, Chief Technology Officer, Genevi Technologies
Genevi Technologies, a portfolio company of OriGyn Solutions, focuses on women’s health, particularly in gynecologic and breast oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, female pelvic health and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries. Currently, the company is developing an at-home treatment device for urinary incontinence (UI), a common condition affecting more than 70 million women, often post-childbirth or as part of the aging process. Their work is based on data from U-M’s Pelvic Floor Research Group and aims to address the root cause of UI by rehabilitating the urethra.
The Pelvic Floor Research Group, founded by James Ashton-Miller and John DeLancey, is an interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to improving the understanding and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. Their primary goal is to identify risk factors and work with high-risk women to prevent and treat these disorders.
“The University of Michigan is such a great place for people to develop cross-disciplinary collaborations,” said DeLancey. “I must admit that I had no idea how to form our innovation beyond coming up with the initial idea, so it’s been wonderful to receive so much support in this endeavor from not only our partners across disciplines, but from the teams at OriGyn Solutions and Innovation Partnerships.”
The UI device by Genevi Technologies originated through a sponsored research agreement, later licensed by the Innovation Partnerships team. Michelle Larkin, director of licensing for medical devices at Innovation Partnerships, provided licensing support. Early-stage clinical studies, funded by the Accelerate Blue Fund, will be conducted by U-M physicians. These studies aim to provide crucial data to attract further investment and advance the research.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with James, John and the rest of the Genevi Technologies team,” said Larkin. “I am continually impressed by their forward-thinking nature and long-standing commitment to improving women’s health. I know I, as well as the rest of the Innovation Partnerships team, am eager to see the results of the team’s clinical studies; they will be able to show the kind of impact Genevi Technologies is capable of bringing to the world of women’s healthcare”